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Bar Exam

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We help you pass the test the first time.

What is the bar exam?

Most states require you to pass a bar exam in order to be licensed to practice law in that state. The content of each state’s bar exam differs, but in general the bar exam tests knowledge of legal concepts generally and the laws of the testing state specifically.

The bar exam is offered twice a year, in February and July. May graduates typically take the July bar exam and January graduates typically take the February bar exam.

What is tested on the bar exam?

Ohio has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) () effective the July 2020 administration of the bar exam.  The UBE, now adopted in over 30 states, is administered over two days and is composed of the Multistate Essa Examination (MEE), two Multistate Performance Test (MPT) tasks and the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).  The UBE results in a portable score that can be used to apply for bar admission in other UBE jurisdictions.
 
The UBE tests the following subjects:  Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Sales), Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Secured Transactions, Torts, and Trusts and Estates.
 
After Ohio, the most popular bar exam for our graduates is New York, which adopted the UBE in July 2020.  In addition to taking the UBE, applicants for admission in New York must also complete an online course and pass an online examination on New York law.  Ohio is still considering whether and how it will test Ohio-specific law.

How do I prepare for the bar exam?

You should consider the subjects on the bar exam when deciding what courses to take in your second and third years of law school. You should try to take courses in many of the subjects covered on the bar exam so you do not have to learn too many new subjects when studying for the bar exam.

You will also need to take a commercial bar review course during the two months leading up to the bar exam. These courses usually begin immediately after graduation. Please note that the law school does not take a position on the quality of these vendors or courses, nor do we recommend one vendor or course over another. You should compare the different providers and decide which is best for you.

In addition to commercial bar review courses, we offer a course that provides an introduction to the testing formats and required skills common to bar exams in United States jurisdictions, including the Multistate Bar Exam, the Multistate Performance Test, and essay questions in various substantive areas (which generally incorporate some state-specific content). However, the course does not comprise complete preparation for any bar exam. Rather, it provides familiarity, study strategies, and test-taking instruction along with limited substantive content.

Do I have to pass a Professional Responsibility Exam?

In order to practice law in most jurisdictions (including Ohio), you need to pass the . This exam is not part of the Bar Exam; it is a separate exam offered several times each year.

What is the character & fitness process?

In addition to taking a bar exam, applicants will be required to provide detailed information relating to their character and fitness. You answered some questions relating to character and fitness on your